U.S. patent number 10,551,478 [Application Number 15/606,316] was granted by the patent office on 2020-02-04 for multi-factor location verification.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Facebook, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Facebook, Inc.. Invention is credited to Yael Maguire, Michael John McKenzie Toksvig, Erick Tseng, Yoon Kean Wong.
United States Patent |
10,551,478 |
Tseng , et al. |
February 4, 2020 |
Multi-factor location verification
Abstract
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing at least two
determinations of the location of a mobile computing device, with
each determined location having been determined without reference
to explicit location information manually input by a user of the
mobile computing device. At least one first determined location is
compared with at least one second determined location, with
comparisons being made between location determinations made based
on different location determination input. A functionality
associated with the mobile computing device is allowed if the first
determined location corresponds to at least one of the second
determined locations.
Inventors: |
Tseng; Erick (San Francisco,
CA), Wong; Yoon Kean (Redwood City, CA), Maguire;
Yael (San Francisco, CA), Toksvig; Michael John McKenzie
(Palo Alto, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Facebook, Inc. |
Menlo Park |
CA |
US |
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Assignee: |
Facebook, Inc. (Menlo Park,
CA)
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Family
ID: |
51529407 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/606,316 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170261589 A1 |
Sep 14, 2017 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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13842767 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
9715003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
63/107 (20130101); G06Q 20/3278 (20130101); H04W
4/80 (20180201); G01S 5/0205 (20130101); G06Q
50/01 (20130101); G01S 5/0263 (20130101); G01S
19/14 (20130101); H04W 4/029 (20180201); H04W
12/00503 (20190101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01S
5/02 (20100101); H04W 4/029 (20180101); H04L
29/06 (20060101); G06Q 50/00 (20120101); G06Q
20/32 (20120101); H04W 4/80 (20180101); G01S
19/14 (20100101); H04W 4/02 (20180101); H04W
12/00 (20090101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2357493 |
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Aug 2011 |
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EP |
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2012212443 |
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Nov 2012 |
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JP |
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2012531689 |
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Dec 2012 |
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JP |
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0188790 |
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Nov 2001 |
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WO |
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WO2008010287 |
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Jan 2008 |
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WO |
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2011040401 |
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Apr 2011 |
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WO |
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Other References
Examination Report No. 1 for AU Application No. 2014235429, dated
May 30, 2017. cited by applicant .
Notification of Reasons for Rejection for JP Application No.
2016-501609 (with English translation), dated Dec. 19, 2017. cited
by applicant .
Notice of Preliminary Rejection for KR Application No.
10-2015-7029303 (with English translation), dated Jan. 9, 2018.
cited by applicant .
Notification of the Third Office Action for CN Application No.
201480026703.X (with English translation), dated May 10, 2018.
cited by applicant .
KR Notice of Allowance received for Patent Application No.
10-2015-7029303. (with English Translation), dated Jul. 27, 2018.
cited by applicant .
AU Office Action received for Patent Application No. 2018203772,
dated Jul. 16, 2018. cited by applicant .
EP Communication received from EPO for Patent Application No.
14768627.3-1206, dated Jul. 23, 2018. cited by applicant .
JP OA received from JPO for Patent Application No. JP2016-501609.
(with English Translation), dated Jun. 6, 2018. cited by applicant
.
Examination Report No. 2 for AU Application No. 2014235426, dated
Apr. 20, 2018. cited by applicant .
Notification of the Second Office Action for CN Application No.
201480026703.X (with English translation), dated Jul. 18, 2017.
cited by applicant .
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dated Jul. 11, 2019. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Hong; Dung
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Baker Botts L.L.P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media
embodying software that is operable when executed to: access a
plurality of determinations of the location of a user of a mobile
computing device, each determined location having been determined
without reference to explicit location information manually input
by a user of the mobile computing device, compare a first
determined location with at least one second determined location,
the first determined location having been determined based on a
first location determination technique, each of the second
determined locations having been determined based on a location
determination technique that is different than the first location
determination technique; access a value of a first trust factor
associated with the first determined location; for at least one
second determined locations, access a value of a second trust
factor associated with the second determined location; determine a
value of a third trust factor based on the first trust factor,
second trust factor, and the comparison; and allow a functionality
associated with the mobile computing device or the user of the
mobile computing device when: the first determined location
corresponds to one or more of the second determined locations, and
the value of one or more of the third trust factors exceed a value
of a predetermined trust-factor threshold associated with the
functionality.
2. The media of claim 1, wherein the first determined location and
at least one of the second determined locations were determined
within a predetermined time of the comparison.
3. The media of claim 1, wherein the first location determination
technique comprises one or more of: communication between the
mobile computing device and a radio-frequency identification
system; communication between the mobile computing device and a
near-field communication system; communication between the mobile
computing device and a wireless network device; a GPS
determination; or information associated with an economic
transaction associated with the user.
4. The media of claim 1, wherein the first determined location
corresponds to one of the one or more second determined locations
when the correspondence is within a predetermined precision.
5. The media of claim 4, wherein the precision is based on one or
both of the method used to determine the first determined location
and the method used to determine one of the one or more second
determined locations.
6. The media of claim 1, wherein the functionality comprises one or
more of: accessing one or more settings associated with mobile
computing device; accessing one or more accounts associated with
the user; accessing restricted or secure data; accessing restricted
or secure networks; accessing an application on the mobile
computing device; communicating, using the mobile computing device,
with another computing device; providing information relating to
the user to a third party; providing information related to the
third party to the user; or engaging in economic transactions.
7. The media of claim 1, wherein the user is a user of social
network comprising a social growth graph that comprises a plurality
of nodes and edges connecting the nodes, with at least one node in
the social graph corresponding to the user; and at least one of the
first, second, or third trust factor is determined based on
information associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes
or edges in the social-networking system.
8. The media of claim 1, wherein the user is a user of social
network comprising a social growth that comprises a plurality of
nodes and edges connecting the nodes, with at least one node in the
social growth graph corresponding to the user; and the value of the
predetermined trust-factor threshold is determined based on
information associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes
or edges in the social-networking system.
9. The media of claim 1, wherein the user is a user of social
network comprising a social graph that comprises a plurality of
nodes and edges connecting the nodes, with at least one node in the
social graph corresponding to the user; and at least one of the
first or second determined location is determined based on
information associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes
or edges in the social-networking system.
10. A system comprising: one or more computer-readable
non-transitory storage media embodying instructions; and one or
more processors coupled to the media and operable to execute the
instructions to: access a plurality of determinations of the
location of a user of a mobile computing device, each determined
location having been determined without reference to explicit
location information manually input by a user of the mobile
computing device, compare a first determined location with at least
one second determined location, the first determined location
having been determined based on a first location determination
technique, each of the second determined locations having been
determined based on a location determination technique that is
different than the first location determination technique; access a
value of a first trust factor associated with the first determined
location; for at least one second determined locations, access a
value of a second trust factor associated with the second
determined location; determine a value of a third trust factor
based on the first trust factor, second trust factor, and the
comparison; and allow a functionality associated with the mobile
computing device or the user of the mobile computing device when:
the first determined location corresponds to one or more of the
second determined locations, and the value of one or more of the
third trust factors exceed a value of a predetermined trust-factor
threshold associated with the functionality.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first determined location
and at least one of the second determined locations were determined
within a predetermined time of the comparison.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first location
determination technique comprises one or more of: communication
between the mobile computing device and a radio-frequency
identification system; communication between the mobile computing
device and a near-field communication system; communication between
the mobile computing device and a wireless network device; a GPS
determination; or information associated with an economic
transaction associated with the user.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first determined location
corresponds to one of the one or more second determined locations
when the correspondence is within a predetermined precision.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the precision is based on one
or both of the method used to determine the first determined
location and the method used to determine one of the one or more
second determined locations.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the functionality comprises one
or more of: accessing one or more settings associated with mobile
computing device; accessing one or more accounts associated with
the user; accessing restricted or secure data; accessing restricted
or secure networks; accessing an application on the mobile
computing device; communicating, using the mobile computing device,
with another computing device; providing information relating to
the user to a third party; providing information related to the
third party to the user; or engaging in economic transactions.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein the user is a user of social
network comprising a social graph that comprises a plurality of
nodes and edges connecting the nodes, with a least one node in the
social graph corresponding to the user; and at least one of the
first, second, or third trust factor is determined based on
information associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes
or edges in the social-networking system.
17. The system of claim 10, wherein the user is a user of social
network comprising a social graph that comprises a plurality of
nodes and edges connecting the nodes, with at least one node in the
social graph corresponding to the user; and the value of the
predetermined trust-factor threshold is determined based on
information associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes
or edges in the social-networking system.
18. The system of claim 10, wherein the user is a user of social
network comprising a social graph that comprises a plurality of
nodes and edges connecting the nodes, with at least one node in the
social graph corresponding to the user; and at least one of the
first or second determined location is determined based on
information associated with at least one of the plurality of nodes
or edges in the social-networking system.
Description
PRIORITY INFORMATION
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/842,767 titled "MULTI-FACTOR
LOCATION VERIFICATION" and filed 15 Mar. 2013.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure generally relates to electronic location
determination.
BACKGROUND
A mobile computing device--such as a smartphone, tablet computer,
or laptop computer--may include functionality for determining its
location, direction, or orientation, such as a GPS receiver,
compass, or gyroscope. Such a device may also include functionality
for wireless communication, such as BLUETOOTH communication,
near-field communication (NFC), or infrared (IR) communication or
communication with a wireless local area networks (WLANs) or
cellular-telephone network. Mobile computing devices may also
execute software applications, such as games, web browsers, or
social-networking applications. With social-networking
applications, users may connect, communicate, and share information
with other users in their social networks.
SUMMARY OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS
Verifying the location of a user of a mobile device can be an
important part of identifying a mobile device or a user of the
mobile device. For example, data about events such as a credit card
swipe indicate that a user is performing an economic transaction at
the location of the terminal where the card is swiped. If other
location determination methods indicate that the user is in a
different location, that information may call into question whether
the user has actually authorized the credit card swipe, or is
instead being scammed or defrauded.
The location of a user may be verified by accessing at least two
determined locations of the user or a mobile device associated with
the user. For example, a user's location may be determined by a GPS
reading associated with the user's mobile device and by a
radio-frequency identification between the mobile device and a
kiosk at a known location. The two determinations may be compared
with each other, and a functionality associated with user or a
mobile device may be allowed or prohibited based on whether the
compared locations correspond to each other. For example, a credit
card swipe or access to a secure network may be allowed or denied
based on the comparison.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates an example network environment associated with a
social-networking system.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example social graph.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example method for verifying the location of
an individual using multiple location factors.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example method for verifying the location of
a mobile device, using a specific example of comparing two example
location determination methods.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example computer system.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates an example network environment 100 associated
with a social-networking system. Network environment 100 includes a
client system 130, a social-networking system 160, and a
third-party system 170 connected to each other by a network 110.
Although FIG. 1 illustrates a particular arrangement of client
system 130, social-networking system 160, third-party system 170,
and network 110, this disclosure contemplates any suitable
arrangement of client system 130, social-networking system 160,
third-party system 170, and network 110. As an example and not by
way of limitation, two or more of client system 130,
social-networking system 160, and third-party system 170 may be
connected to each other directly, bypassing network 110. As another
example, two or more of client system 130, social-networking system
160, and third-party system 170 may be physically or logically
co-located with each other in whole or in part. Moreover, although
FIG. 1 illustrates a particular number of client systems 130,
social-networking systems 160, third-party systems 170, and
networks 110, this disclosure contemplates any suitable number of
client systems 130, social-networking systems 160, third-party
systems 170, and networks 110. As an example and not by way of
limitation, network environment 100 may include multiple client
system 130, social-networking systems 160, third-party systems 170,
and networks 110.
This disclosure contemplates any suitable network 110. As an
example and not by way of limitation, one or more portions of
network 110 may include an ad hoc network, an intranet, an
extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network
(LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless
WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the
Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN), a cellular telephone network, or a combination of two or
more of these. Network 110 may include one or more networks
110.
Links 150 may connect client system 130, social-networking system
160, and third-party system 170 to communication network 110 or to
each other. This disclosure contemplates any suitable links 150. In
particular embodiments, one or more links 150 include one or more
wireline (such as for example Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or Data
Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS)), wireless
(such as for example Wi-Fi or Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access (WiMAX)), or optical (such as for example
Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) or Synchronous Digital
Hierarchy (SDH)) links. In particular embodiments, one or more
links 150 each include an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet,
a VPN, a LAN, a WLAN, a WAN, a WWAN, a MAN, a portion of the
Internet, a portion of the PSTN, a cellular technology-based
network, a satellite communications technology-based network,
another link 150, or a combination of two or more such links 150.
Links 150 need not necessarily be the same throughout network
environment 100. One or more first links 150 may differ in one or
more respects from one or more second links 150.
In particular embodiments, client system 130 may be an electronic
device including hardware, software, or embedded logic components
or a combination of two or more such components and capable of
carrying out the appropriate functionalities implemented or
supported by client system 130. As an example and not by way of
limitation, a client system 130 may include a computer system such
as a desktop computer, notebook or laptop computer, netbook, a
tablet computer, e-book reader, GPS device, camera, personal
digital assistant (PDA), handheld electronic device, cellular
telephone, smartphone, other suitable electronic device, or any
suitable combination thereof. This disclosure contemplates any
suitable client systems 130. A client system 130 may enable a
network user at client system 130 to access network 110. A client
system 130 may enable its user to communicate with other users at
other client systems 130.
In particular embodiments, client system 130 may include a web
browser 132, such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, GOOGLE CHROME or
MOZILLA FIREFOX, and may have one or more add-ons, plug-ins, or
other extensions, such as TOOLBAR or YAHOO TOOLBAR. A user at
client system 130 may enter a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or
other address directing the web browser 132 to a particular server
(such as server 162, or a server associated with a third-party
system 170), and the web browser 132 may generate a Hyper Text
Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request and communicate the HTTP request
to server. The server may accept the HTTP request and communicate
to client system 130 one or more Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML)
files responsive to the HTTP request. Client system 130 may render
a webpage based on the HTML files from the server for presentation
to the user. This disclosure contemplates any suitable webpage
files. As an example and not by way of limitation, webpages may
render from HTML files, Extensible Hyper Text Markup Language
(XHTML) files, or Extensible Markup Language (XML) files, according
to particular needs. Such pages may also execute scripts such as,
for example and without limitation, those written in JAVASCRIPT,
JAVA, MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT, combinations of markup language and
scripts such as AJAX (Asynchronous JAVASCRIPT and XML), and the
like. Herein, reference to a webpage encompasses one or more
corresponding webpage files (which a browser may use to render the
webpage) and vice versa, where appropriate.
In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 may be a
network-addressable computing system that can host an online social
network. Social-networking system 160 may generate, store, receive,
and send social-networking data, such as, for example, user-profile
data, concept-profile data, social-graph information, or other
suitable data related to the online social network.
Social-networking system 160 may be accessed by the other
components of network environment 100 either directly or via
network 110. In particular embodiments, social-networking system
160 may include one or more servers 162. Each server 162 may be a
unitary server or a distributed server spanning multiple computers
or multiple datacenters. Servers 162 may be of various types, such
as, for example and without limitation, web server, news server,
mail server, message server, advertising server, file server,
application server, exchange server, database server, proxy server,
another server suitable for performing functions or processes
described herein, or any combination thereof. In particular
embodiments, each server 162 may include hardware, software, or
embedded logic components or a combination of two or more such
components for carrying out the appropriate functionalities
implemented or supported by server 162. In particular embodiments,
social-networking system 164 may include one or more data stores
164. Data stores 164 may be used to store various types of
information. In particular embodiments, the information stored in
data stores 164 may be organized according to specific data
structures. In particular embodiments, each data store 164 may be a
relational, columnar, correlation, or other suitable database.
Although this disclosure describes or illustrates particular types
of databases, this disclosure contemplates any suitable types of
databases. Particular embodiments may provide interfaces that
enable a client system 130, a social-networking system 160, or a
third-party system 170 to manage, retrieve, modify, add, or delete,
the information stored in data store 164.
In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 may store
one or more social graphs in one or more data stores 164. In
particular embodiments, a social graph may include multiple
nodes--which may include multiple user nodes (each corresponding to
a particular user) or multiple concept nodes (each corresponding to
a particular concept)--and multiple edges connecting the nodes.
Social-networking system 160 may provide users of the online social
network the ability to communicate and interact with other users.
In particular embodiments, users may join the online social network
via social-networking system 160 and then add connections (e.g.
relationships) to a number of other users of social-networking
system 160 whom they want to be connected to. Herein, the term
"friend" may refer to any other user of social-networking system
160 with whom a user has formed a connection, association, or
relationship via social-networking system 160.
In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 may provide
users with the ability to take actions on various types of items or
objects, supported by social-networking system 160. As an example
and not by way of limitation, the items and objects may include
groups or social networks to which users of social-networking
system 160 may belong, events or calendar entries in which a user
might be interested, computer-based applications that a user may
use, transactions that allow users to buy or sell items via the
service, interactions with advertisements that a user may perform,
or other suitable items or objects. A user may interact with
anything that is capable of being represented in social-networking
system 160 or by an external system of third-party system 170,
which is separate from social-networking system 160 and coupled to
social-networking system 160 via a network 110.
In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 may be
capable of linking a variety of entities. As an example and not by
way of limitation, social-networking system 160 may enable users to
interact with each other as well as receive content from
third-party systems 170 or other entities, or to allow users to
interact with these entities through an application programming
interfaces (API) or other communication channels.
In particular embodiments, a third-party system 170 may include one
or more types of servers, one or more data stores, one or more
interfaces, including but not limited to APIs, one or more web
services, one or more content sources, one or more networks, or any
other suitable components, e.g., that servers may communicate with.
A third-party system 170 may be operated by a different entity from
an entity operating social-networking system 160. In particular
embodiments, however, social-networking system 160 and third-party
systems 170 may operate in conjunction with each other to provide
social-networking services to users of social-networking system 160
or third-party systems 170. In this sense, social-networking system
160 may provide a platform, or backbone, which other systems, such
as third-party systems 170, may use to provide social-networking
services and functionality to users across the Internet.
In particular embodiments, a third-party system 170 may include a
third-party content object provider. A third-party content object
provider may include one or more sources of content objects, which
may be communicated to a client system 130. As an example and not
by way of limitation, content objects may include information
regarding things or activities of interest to the user, such as,
for example, movie show times, movie reviews, restaurant reviews,
restaurant menus, product information and reviews, or other
suitable information. As another example and not by way of
limitation, content objects may include incentive content objects,
such as coupons, discount tickets, gift certificates, or other
suitable incentive objects.
In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 also
includes user-generated content objects, which may enhance a user's
interactions with social-networking system 160. User-generated
content may include anything a user can add, upload, send, or
"post" to social-networking system 160. As an example and not by
way of limitation, a user communicates posts to social-networking
system 160 from a client system 130. Posts may include data such as
status updates or other textual data, location information, photos,
videos, links, music or other similar data or media. Content may
also be added to social-networking system 160 by a third-party
through a "communication channel," such as a newsfeed or
stream.
In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 may include
a variety of servers, sub-systems, programs, modules, logs, and
data stores. In particular embodiments, social-networking system
160 may include one or more of the following: a web server, action
logger, API-request server, relevance-and-ranking engine,
content-object classifier, notification controller, action log,
third-party-content-object-exposure log, inference module,
authorization/privacy server, search module,
advertisement-targeting module, user-interface module, user-profile
store, connection store, third-party content store, or location
store. Social-networking system 160 may also include suitable
components such as network interfaces, security mechanisms, load
balancers, failover servers, management-and-network-operations
consoles, other suitable components, or any suitable combination
thereof. In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160
may include one or more user-profile stores for storing user
profiles. A user profile may include, for example, biographic
information, demographic information, behavioral information,
social information, or other types of descriptive information, such
as work experience, educational history, hobbies or preferences,
interests, affinities, or location. Interest information may
include interests related to one or more categories. Categories may
be general or specific. As an example and not by way of limitation,
if a user "likes" an article about a brand of shoes the category
may be the brand, or the general category of "shoes" or "clothing."
A connection store may be used for storing connection information
about users. The connection information may indicate users who have
similar or common work experience, group memberships, hobbies,
educational history, or are in any way related or share common
attributes. The connection information may also include
user-defined connections between different users and content (both
internal and external). A web server may be used for linking
social-networking system 160 to one or more client systems 130 or
one or more third-party system 170 via network 110. The web server
may include a mail server or other messaging functionality for
receiving and routing messages between social-networking system 160
and one or more client systems 130. An API-request server may allow
a third-party system 170 to access information from
social-networking system 160 by calling one or more APIs. An action
logger may be used to receive communications from a web server
about a user's actions on or off social-networking system 160. In
conjunction with the action log, a third-party-content-object log
may be maintained of user exposures to third-party-content objects.
A notification controller may provide information regarding content
objects to a client system 130. Information may be pushed to a
client system 130 as notifications, or information may be pulled
from client system 130 responsive to a request received from client
system 130. Authorization servers may be used to enforce one or
more privacy settings of the users of social-networking system 160.
A privacy setting of a user determines how particular information
associated with a user can be shared. The authorization server may
allow users to opt in or opt out of having their actions logged by
social-networking system 160 or shared with other systems (e.g.
third-party system 170), such as, for example, by setting
appropriate privacy settings. Third-party-content-object stores may
be used to store content objects received from third parties, such
as a third-party system 170. Location stores may be used for
storing location information received from client systems 130
associated with users. Advertisement-pricing modules may combine
social information, the current time, location information, or
other suitable information to provide relevant advertisements, in
the form of notifications, to a user.
FIG. 2 illustrates example social graph 200. In particular
embodiments, social-networking system 160 may store one or more
social graphs 200 in one or more data stores. In particular
embodiments, social graph 200 may include multiple nodes--which may
include multiple user nodes 202 or multiple concept nodes 204--and
multiple edges 206 connecting the nodes. Example social graph 200
illustrated in FIG. 2 is shown, for didactic purposes, in a
two-dimensional visual map representation. In particular
embodiments, a social-networking system 160, client system 130, or
third-party system 170 may access social graph 200 and related
social-graph information for suitable applications. The nodes and
edges of social graph 200 may be stored as data objects, for
example, in a data store (such as a social-graph database). Such a
data store may include one or more searchable or queryable indexes
of nodes or edges of social graph 200.
In particular embodiments, a user node 202 may correspond to a user
of social-networking system 160. As an example and not by way of
limitation, a user may be an individual (human user), an entity
(e.g. an enterprise, business, or third-party application), or a
group (e.g. of individuals or entities) that interacts or
communicates with or over social-networking system 160. In
particular embodiments, when a user registers for an account with
social-networking system 160, social-networking system 160 may
create a user node 202 corresponding to the user, and store the
user node 202 in one or more data stores. Users and user nodes 202
described herein may, where appropriate, refer to registered users
and user nodes 202 associated with registered users. In addition or
as an alternative, users and user nodes 202 described herein may,
where appropriate, refer to users that have not registered with
social-networking system 160. In particular embodiments, a user
node 202 may be associated with information provided by a user or
information gathered by various systems, including
social-networking system 160. As an example and not by way of
limitation, a user may provide his or her name, profile picture,
contact information, birth date, sex, marital status, family
status, employment, education background, preferences, interests,
or other demographic information. In particular embodiments, a user
node 202 may be associated with one or more data objects
corresponding to information associated with a user. In particular
embodiments, a user node 202 may correspond to one or more
webpages.
In particular embodiments, a concept node 204 may correspond to a
concept. As an example and not by way of limitation, a concept may
correspond to a place (such as, for example, a movie theater,
restaurant, landmark, or city); a website (such as, for example, a
website associated with social-network system 160 or a third-party
website associated with a web-application server); an entity (such
as, for example, a person, business, group, sports team, or
celebrity); a resource (such as, for example, an audio file, video
file, digital photo, text file, structured document, or
application) which may be located within social-networking system
160 or on an external server, such as a web-application server;
real or intellectual property (such as, for example, a sculpture,
painting, movie, game, song, idea, photograph, or written work); a
game; an activity; an idea or theory; another suitable concept; or
two or more such concepts. A concept node 204 may be associated
with information of a concept provided by a user or information
gathered by various systems, including social-networking system
160. As an example and not by way of limitation, information of a
concept may include a name or a title; one or more images (e.g. an
image of the cover page of a book); a location (e.g. an address or
a geographical location); a website (which may be associated with a
URL); contact information (e.g. a phone number or an email
address); other suitable concept information; or any suitable
combination of such information. In particular embodiments, a
concept node 204 may be associated with one or more data objects
corresponding to information associated with concept node 204. In
particular embodiments, a concept node 204 may correspond to one or
more webpages.
In particular embodiments, a node in social graph 200 may represent
or be represented by a webpage (which may be referred to as a
"profile page"). Profile pages may be hosted by or accessible to
social-networking system 160. Profile pages may also be hosted on
third-party websites associated with a third-party server 170. As
an example and not by way of limitation, a profile page
corresponding to a particular external webpage may be the
particular external webpage and the profile page may correspond to
a particular concept node 204. Profile pages may be viewable by all
or a selected subset of other users. As an example and not by way
of limitation, a user node 202 may have a corresponding
user-profile page in which the corresponding user may add content,
make declarations, or otherwise express himself or herself. As
another example and not by way of limitation, a concept node 204
may have a corresponding concept-profile page in which one or more
users may add content, make declarations, or express themselves,
particularly in relation to the concept corresponding to concept
node 204.
In particular embodiments, a concept node 204 may represent a
third-party webpage or resource hosted by a third-party system 170.
The third-party webpage or resource may include, among other
elements, content, a selectable or other icon, or other
inter-actable object (which may be implemented, for example, in
JavaScript, AJAX, or PHP codes) representing an action or activity.
As an example and not by way of limitation, a third-party webpage
may include a selectable icon such as "like," "check in," "eat,"
"recommend," or another suitable action or activity. A user viewing
the third-party webpage may perform an action by selecting one of
the icons (e.g. "eat"), causing a client system 130 to send to
social-networking system 160 a message indicating the user's
action. In response to the message, social-networking system 160
may create an edge (e.g. an "eat" edge) between a user node 202
corresponding to the user and a concept node 204 corresponding to
the third-party webpage or resource and store edge 206 in one or
more data stores.
In particular embodiments, a pair of nodes in social graph 200 may
be connected to each other by one or more edges 206. An edge 206
connecting a pair of nodes may represent a relationship between the
pair of nodes. In particular embodiments, an edge 206 may include
or represent one or more data objects or attributes corresponding
to the relationship between a pair of nodes. As an example and not
by way of limitation, a first user may indicate that a second user
is a "friend" of the first user. In response to this indication,
social-networking system 160 may send a "friend request" to the
second user. If the second user confirms the "friend request,"
social-networking system 160 may create an edge 206 connecting the
first user's user node 202 to the second user's user node 202 in
social graph 200 and store edge 206 as social-graph information in
one or more of data stores 24. In the example of FIG. 2, social
graph 200 includes an edge 206 indicating a friend relation between
user nodes 202 of user "A" and user "B" and an edge indicating a
friend relation between user nodes 202 of user "C" and user "B."
Although this disclosure describes or illustrates particular edges
206 with particular attributes connecting particular user nodes
202, this disclosure contemplates any suitable edges 206 with any
suitable attributes connecting user nodes 202. As an example and
not by way of limitation, an edge 206 may represent a friendship,
family relationship, business or employment relationship, fan
relationship, follower relationship, visitor relationship,
subscriber relationship, superior/subordinate relationship,
reciprocal relationship, non-reciprocal relationship, another
suitable type of relationship, or two or more such relationships.
Moreover, although this disclosure generally describes nodes as
being connected, this disclosure also describes users or concepts
as being connected. Herein, references to users or concepts being
connected may, where appropriate, refer to the nodes corresponding
to those users or concepts being connected in social graph 200 by
one or more edges 206.
In particular embodiments, an edge 206 between a user node 202 and
a concept node 204 may represent a particular action or activity
performed by a user associated with user node 202 toward a concept
associated with a concept node 204. As an example and not by way of
limitation, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a user may "like,"
"attended," "played," "listened," "cooked," "worked at," or
"watched" a concept, each of which may correspond to a edge type or
subtype. A concept-profile page corresponding to a concept node 204
may include, for example, a selectable "check in" icon (such as,
for example, a clickable "check in" icon) or a selectable "add to
favorites" icon. Similarly, after a user clicks these icons,
social-networking system 160 may create a "favorite" edge or a
"check in" edge in response to a user's action corresponding to a
respective action. As another example and not by way of limitation,
a user (user "C") may listen to a particular song ("Ramble On")
using a particular application (SPOTIFY, which is an online music
application). In this case, social-networking system 160 may create
a "listened" edge 206 and a "used" edge (as illustrated in FIG. 2)
between user nodes 202 corresponding to the user and concept nodes
204 corresponding to the song and application to indicate that the
user listened to the song and used the application. Moreover,
social-networking system 160 may create a "played" edge 206 (as
illustrated in FIG. 2) between concept nodes 204 corresponding to
the song and the application to indicate that the particular song
was played by the particular application. In this case, "played"
edge 206 corresponds to an action performed by an external
application (SPOTIFY) on an external audio file (the song
"Imagine"). Although this disclosure describes particular edges 206
with particular attributes connecting user nodes 202 and concept
nodes 204, this disclosure contemplates any suitable edges 206 with
any suitable attributes connecting user nodes 202 and concept nodes
204. Moreover, although this disclosure describes edges between a
user node 202 and a concept node 204 representing a single
relationship, this disclosure contemplates edges between a user
node 202 and a concept node 204 representing one or more
relationships. As an example and not by way of limitation, an edge
206 may represent both that a user likes and has used at a
particular concept. Alternatively, another edge 206 may represent
each type of relationship (or multiples of a single relationship)
between a user node 202 and a concept node 204 (as illustrated in
FIG. 2 between user node 202 for user "E" and concept node 204 for
"SPOTIFY").
In particular embodiments, social-networking system 160 may create
an edge 206 between a user node 202 and a concept node 204 in
social graph 200. As an example and not by way of limitation, a
user viewing a concept-profile page (such as, for example, by using
a web browser or a special-purpose application hosted by the user's
client system 130) may indicate that he or she likes the concept
represented by the concept node 204 by clicking or selecting a
"Like" icon, which may cause the user's client system 130 to send
to social-networking system 160 a message indicating the user's
liking of the concept associated with the concept-profile page. In
response to the message, social-networking system 160 may create an
edge 206 between user node 202 associated with the user and concept
node 204, as illustrated by "like" edge 206 between the user and
concept node 204. In particular embodiments, social-networking
system 160 may store an edge 206 in one or more data stores. In
particular embodiments, an edge 206 may be automatically formed by
social-networking system 160 in response to a particular user
action. As an example and not by way of limitation, if a first user
uploads a picture, watches a movie, or listens to a song, an edge
206 may be formed between user node 202 corresponding to the first
user and concept nodes 204 corresponding to those concepts.
Although this disclosure describes forming particular edges 206 in
particular manners, this disclosure contemplates forming any
suitable edges 206 in any suitable manner.
Verifying the location of a user of a mobile device can be an
important part of identifying a mobile device or a user of the
mobile device. For example, data about events such as a credit card
swipe indicate that a user is performing an economic transaction at
the location of the terminal where the card is swiped. If other
location determination methods indicate that the user is in a
different location, that information may call into question whether
the user has actually authorized the credit card swipe, or is
instead being scammed or defrauded. If the user's location can be
independently verified, the merchant can be more certain that the
transaction is valid. In addition, the merchant can associate the
located device or user with the transaction, providing the user
with an experience tailored to that user. As another example,
access to a wireless network may be limited to devices that are
within a particular location, such as a business. If a device
accessing the wireless network appears to be doing so from a
location outside the business, such information may be an indicator
that the device is gaining unauthorized access to the wireless
network. As another example, a targeted advertisement may be
displayed to select users at a given location. In order to display
the advertisement to the correct individuals, the locations of the
individuals must be accurately confirmed. While this disclosure
describes specific examples of uses for identifying a mobile
device, user of the mobile device, or their locations, this
disclosure contemplates any suitable uses for the location or
identify of a mobile device or user.
The location of a user of a mobile device may be determined using
any suitable location determination method. In particular
embodiments a location determination method may involve
radio-frequency identification (RFID) communication. For example, a
mobile device may have one or more RFID tags on or in the mobile
device that communicates with an RFID reader. A tag may be unique
to the mobile device or may be configured to provide multiple
responses to an RFID reader, with each response being associated
with one or more users of the mobile device. In particular
embodiments, a location determination method may include scanning a
barcode at a kiosk or other suitable terminal with a known
location. For example, a barcode may be unique to a user or
otherwise identify the user, thus identifying the user's location
as that of the terminal used to scan the barcode. In particular
embodiments, a location determination method may include
interaction between a user's mobile device and another device, such
as a Bluetooth device, a near-field communication (NFC) system, or
another electronic device in the vicinity of the mobile device. For
example, the interaction may include communicating location
information of the mobile device. As another example, the
interaction may identify the mobile device to the other device (or
vice versa). If the other device is in a known location, then the
location of the mobile device can be established. In particular
embodiments, a location determination method may include
interaction between a user's mobile device and network device with
a known location. The interaction may identify the mobile device,
establishing that the mobile device is in the vicinity of the
located network component. The mobile device may be identified by
any suitable method, such as by identifying the device's media
access control (MAC) address or the device's wifi ID. In particular
embodiments, a location determination method may be an interaction
between the user and a device, such as a user's credit card swipe
at a terminal with a known location. As another example, an
interaction may establish the identity of the user, such as through
biometric readers or voice recognition by a device with a known
location. In particular embodiments, a location determination
method may include locating a mobile device using GPS technology,
triangulation of access points such as cell towers or network
devices, etc. In particular embodiments, a location determination
method may include advanced knowledge of the user's intended or
estimated location, such as a reservation for an event at a
particular time (e.g. restaurant, theater, concert, etc). As
another example, a statement of a user's intentions such as on a
social-networking system may include information from which the
user's actual or intended location may be determined. In particular
embodiments, a location determined method may include verifying the
performance of explicit instructions to the user. For example, a
user of a wireless network may be instructed to go to a specific
location, and the user's performance (and thus location) may be
validated by measuring e.g. the wireless signal strength as the
user moves towards and arrives at the location. In particular
embodiments, a location determination method may depend in part on
information about the user, such as that associated with a
social-networking system. For example, if a user is logged into a
social-networking system, the system may be able to associate
information about the users' devices with the user, validating the
user's location. For example, a device's MAC address communicated
with network access point may be associated with the user, and if
the user is logged into the social network on the device, then the
social network may automatically perform the association. As
another example, an interaction with an RFID reader may communicate
information to an application on the user's mobile device, and that
application may be associated with the user by information
contained in the social networking system. As another example, a
user may be tagged in posts, photos, or other content associated
with a social network, and the user's location may be determined
from information associated with that tag, such as from an explicit
statement of the user's location made by another user of the social
network. In particular embodiments, a location determination method
may include interaction between a magnetic field and a user device
having a compass or other suitable magnetometer. In particular
embodiments, the user can correlate their location using any other
suitable location determination method, such as the MAC address of
the user's device. As an example, a kiosk in a store can use a
magnet stronger than the earth's magnetic field at store locations
where a user is located. If the phone's magnetometer detects the
magnetic field, the user's mobile device can send a message to the
store's system correlating the spatially located MAC address and
magnetic detection with an event (such as transferring the an
identifier associated with a social network to a kiosk, making a
purchase, etc.). In particular embodiments, instead of or in
addition to a magnet and magnetometer, a location determination
method may include a kiosk or other suitable device with a
transducer that interacts with a user's mobile device. For example,
the transducer may create one or more vibrations or vibration
patterns (for example, such as those induced by tapping the device
on the kiosk or other suitable device) which may be detected by an
accelerometer in the user's mobile device. As another example, the
user's mobile device may transmit one or more vibrations or
vibration patterns to terminal, which are detected by a transducer
in the terminal. In particular embodiments, instead of or in
addition to a magnet and magnetometer, a location determination
method may include the user' device having an ambient light sensor,
such as a camera, that detects frequency or intensity of ambient
light. As an example, the light may be created by a terminal or
other suitable device. As another example, the user may photograph
a barcode, such as a barcode produced by a terminal at a known
location, using a camera on a device equipped with a bar code
reader. In particular embodiments, instead of or in addition to a
magnet and magnetometer, a location determination method may
include the user's mobile device transmitting light to e.g. a kiosk
in a store, which may detect the light to locate the device. For
example, the device may transmit a particular frequency or
intensity of light or a particular pattern of flashes, which are
detected by the kiosk. In particular embodiments, instead of or in
addition to a magnet and magnetometer, a location determination
method may include detection of a sound by the mobile device, such
as a particular frequency, duration, or pattern of sounds emitted
by a kiosk. In addition or the alternative, the device may emit the
sounds, which are detected by e.g. the kiosk. In particular
embodiments, instead of or in addition to a magnet and
magnetometer, a location determination method may include various
RF methods, such as those using an RFID system described above. In
particular embodiments, instead of or in addition to a magnet and
magnetometer, a location determination method may include an
interaction of a user with a kiosk or other suitable device at a
known location. For example, the user may touch a particular
pattern on a touch screen or particular portions of the touch
screen, which are detected by the touch screen and indicate the
use's location. The pattern may be displayed on e.g. a kiosk at a
store for the user to contact. In particular embodiments, instead
of or in addition to a magnet and magnetometer, a location
determination method may include a store employee or other suitable
individual indicating the presence of a user, such as by selecting
a photo of the user. In particular embodiments, such indication may
not require corroboration by another location determination method,
such as by identifying a device's MAC address. While this
disclosure describes particular examples of location determination
methods or systems, this disclosure contemplates determining the
location of a user by any suitable location determination method or
system.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example method 300 for verifying the location
of a mobile device or user of the mobile device. The method may
begin at step 310, where at least two determined locations of the
mobile device are accessed. The determined locations may be
determined by any suitable method or system, such as those
described above. In particular embodiments, the determined
locations have been determined without reference to explicit
location information input by the user of the mobile device, such
as geographic coordinates or a particular place indicating the
user's location and input by the user using a computing device, or
an explicit statement of the user's location such as a message or
post on a social network stating "I am at San Francisco airport."
This disclosure contemplates that the determined locations may be
stored in and accessed from any suitable data storage structure in
any suitable location, such as on the user's mobile device or on
one or more remote servers, hard drives, etc. In particular
embodiments, access to such information may be restricted, for
example by a user's privacy settings.
At step 320, at least two determined locations are compared against
each other. In particular embodiments, several determined locations
may each be compared against each other. For example, four
determined locations may be accessed and compared to each other,
resulting in six comparisons. In particular embodiments,
comparisons are performed between two determined locations only
when the methods used to determine those locations use different
location input. For example, if one location is determined using
RFID communication and another is determined using a WiFi signal
then those two determinations may be compared. If both locations
were determined using the same method and using the same location
determination input, then the comparison would not be made.
However, it should be noted that a single location event may
generate different location determination input, and locations
determined using that separate input may be compared. For example,
a single RFID communication may communicate information about a
RFID tag and also communicate information about the device's MAC
address, each of which are separate location determination inputs.
In particular embodiments, comparisons may be performed between two
determined locations only when both locations have been determined
within a predetermined time of the comparison. For example, stale
location determinations may be excluded from comparison. A
predetermined time may be set by the entity executing the method,
an entity interested in the results of comparison (e.g. bank,
merchant, advertiser, etc.), by the user, etc. This disclosure
contemplates comparison of location determinations being made by
any suitable computing device using any suitable method or
algorithm of comparing sets or items of data. For example, the
comparison may be made by the user's mobile device or by one or
more remote computing devices such as servers, remote desktops,
etc.
At step 330, one or more functionalities associated with the mobile
device or user of the mobile device are allowed when one or more
comparisons of step 320 reveal that the compared location
correspond to each other. In particular embodiments, the precision
required for two determined locations to correspond to each other
may be adjustable, for example by an entity interested in the
results of the comparison or by the user of the mobile device. For
example, a bank may require a more precise match than an
advertiser. In particular embodiments, precision information may be
determined from information associated with nodes or edge of a
social-network. In particular embodiments, the precision required
for two determined locations to correspond to each other may depend
on one or both of the location determination methods used. A less
sensitive location determination method may result in a lower
degree of precision required. For example, if one location
determination method is accurate to 10 meters and second method is
accurate to 5 meters, then the determined locations may agree when
the determined locations are within 15 meters of each other. More
stringent requirements may also be used.
In particular embodiments, comparisons may be averaged, may be
weighted, or not all comparisons may be used (e.g. only top rated
comparisons may be used) to determine whether determined locations
sufficiently correspond. In particular embodiments, functionality
may be allowed when a predetermined number or percentage of
comparisons agree with each other, such as for example when 75% or
more comparisons correspond, taking into account precision
requirements discussed above.
Particular embodiments may repeat one or more steps of the method
of FIG. 3, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes
and illustrates particular steps of the method of FIG. 3 as
occurring in a particular order, this disclosure contemplates any
suitable steps of the method of FIG. 3 occurring in any suitable
order. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates
particular components, devices, or systems carrying out particular
steps of the method of FIG. 3, this disclosure contemplates any
suitable combination of any suitable components, devices, or
systems carrying out any suitable steps of the method of FIG.
3.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example method 400 for verifying the location
of a mobile device, using a specific example of comparing two
example location determination methods. The method may begin at
step 410, where the location of a mobile device is determined by
the mobile device's interaction with a merchant's RFID reader at a
kiosk at a known location. The user of the mobile device logs onto
the merchant's wireless network, and at step 420 one of the
merchant's wireless network access points at a known location
determines the mobile device's MAC address, which is associated
with the mobile device. The user of the mobile device decides to
purchase something from the merchant and attempts to check the
balance in his bank account by using his mobile device to access
his account information. At step 430, the location determined by
the interaction between the mobile device and the merchant's RFID
kiosk is accessed. At step 440, the location determined by the
merchant's wireless network access point is accessed. At step 450
the two locations are compared to each other. At step 460, if the
two locations correspond to each other (perhaps taking into account
the precision associated with each location determination method),
the user is allowed to log in to his banking account.
Particular embodiments may repeat one or more steps of the method
of FIG. 4, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes
and illustrates particular steps of the method of FIG. 4 as
occurring in a particular order, this disclosure contemplates any
suitable steps of the method of FIG. 4 occurring in any suitable
order. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates
particular components, devices, or systems carrying out particular
steps of the method of FIG. 4, this disclosure contemplates any
suitable combination of any suitable components, devices, or
systems carrying out any suitable steps of the method of FIG.
4.
While the example method described above describes allowing
functionality associated with the mobile device when two or more
location determinations sufficiently correspond, steps 310 and 320
(and of course, steps 430-450) may be performed to determine when
two or more location determinations do not sufficiently correspond,
in which case a functionality associated with the mobile device may
be prohibited. In particular embodiments, if every pair of compared
location determinations do not sufficiently correspond, a
functionality may be prohibited. In particular embodiments, when
any two compared location determinations do not sufficiently
correspond, a functionality may be prohibited. For example, a
functionality may be prohibited if several location determinations
correspond with each other but anther location determination
disagrees with the others, particularly when the disagreement is
large, taking into account precision requirements for the
prohibition of a functionality. Such precision requirements may be
the same as or different then the precision requirements to allow a
functionality. In particular embodiments, a functionality may be
prohibited when select ones of the comparisons do not sufficiently
correspond, for example when the number of corresponding
comparisons falls below a predetermined threshold, such as 25%.
In particular embodiments, a functionality associated with a user
or a mobile device may include access to secure data. Secure data
may include settings on the user's mobile device, a user's settings
or preferences related to a software application (such as a
social-networking application), information about a user's account
(such as a bank account, online store account, etc), personal
information about the user (such as passwords), or any other
suitable secure data. In particular embodiments, a functionally
associated with a user or a mobile device may include accessing a
network or device by a secure connection, such as accessing a
website over a https connection, accessing a secured network, etc.
In particular embodiments, a functionality associated with a user
or a mobile device may include the ability to engage in economic
transactions, such as the ability to purchase something from an
online or physical store, the ability to deposit or withdraw money
from an account, etc. While this disclose describes specific
examples of functionality that may be allowed or prohibited, this
disclosure contemplates allowing or prohibiting any suitable
functionality.
In particular embodiments, allowing or prohibiting a functionality
may be based on trust factors associated with determined locations.
For example, each determined location may have an associated trust
factor indicating the trustworthiness of the determined location,
such as e.g. the ease with which the location can be spoofed,
whether the determined location has been authorized (such as by
being associated with the location of a credit card terminal under
the control of a merchant or a network device under control of a
trusted network provider), etc. In particular embodiments, allowing
or prohibiting a functionality may be based on the trust factor of
a single determined location. For example, having one determined
location with a very high trust factor and that corresponds to
another determined location as described in step 330 may be
sufficient to allow the functionality. In particular embodiments,
allowing or prohibiting a functionality may be based on the trust
factors associated with each of two compared determined locations.
For example, a functionality may be allowed if each determined
location in a comparison has a sufficiently high trust factor
associated with the determination. As another example, a
functionality may be allowed when a certain number of percentage of
the comparisons include determined locations having a sufficiently
high trust factor associated with the determination. In particular
embodiments, allowing or prohibiting a functionality may be based
on a degree of correspondence between comparisons. For example, an
overall trust factor may be determined based on how well two or
more comparisons agree with each other. In particular embodiments,
allowing or prohibiting a functionality may be based on an overall
trust factor having a higher (or lower) value than a predetermined
trust-factor threshold. For example, the overall trust factor may
be based on the trust factors associated with the trust factors of
the compared determined locations and the results of those
comparisons. In particular embodiments, trust factors may be
determined from information associated with a social-networking
system (such as user settings or preferences), information about
the reliability of locations determined using particular methods or
from particular places generally, or information associated with
user's having one or more characteristics similar to the user whose
location or mobile device location is being determined.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example computer system 500. In particular
embodiments, one or more computer systems 500 perform one or more
steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. In
particular embodiments, one or more computer systems 500 provide
functionality described or illustrated herein. In particular
embodiments, software running on one or more computer systems 500
performs one or more steps of one or more methods described or
illustrated herein or provides functionality described or
illustrated herein. Particular embodiments include one or more
portions of one or more computer systems 500. Herein, reference to
a computer system may encompass a computing device, and vice versa,
where appropriate. Moreover, reference to a computer system may
encompass one or more computer systems, where appropriate.
This disclosure contemplates any suitable number of computer
systems 500. This disclosure contemplates computer system 500
taking any suitable physical form. As example and not by way of
limitation, computer system 500 may be an embedded computer system,
a system-on-chip (SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such
as, for example, a computer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module
(SOM)), a desktop computer system, a laptop or notebook computer
system, an interactive kiosk, a mainframe, a mesh of computer
systems, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a
server, a tablet computer system, or a combination of two or more
of these. Where appropriate, computer system 500 may include one or
more computer systems 500; be unitary or distributed; span multiple
locations; span multiple machines; span multiple data centers; or
reside in a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components
in one or more networks. Where appropriate, one or more computer
systems 500 may perform without substantial spatial or temporal
limitation one or more steps of one or more methods described or
illustrated herein. As an example and not by way of limitation, one
or more computer systems 500 may perform in real time or in batch
mode one or more steps of one or more methods described or
illustrated herein. One or more computer systems 500 may perform at
different times or at different locations one or more steps of one
or more methods described or illustrated herein, where
appropriate.
In particular embodiments, computer system 500 includes a processor
502, memory 504, storage 506, an input/output (I/O) interface 508,
a communication interface 510, and a bus 512. Although this
disclosure describes and illustrates a particular computer system
having a particular number of particular components in a particular
arrangement, this disclosure contemplates any suitable computer
system having any suitable number of any suitable components in any
suitable arrangement.
In particular embodiments, processor 502 includes hardware for
executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program.
As an example and not by way of limitation, to execute
instructions, processor 502 may retrieve (or fetch) the
instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, memory
504, or storage 506; decode and execute them; and then write one or
more results to an internal register, an internal cache, memory
504, or storage 506. In particular embodiments, processor 502 may
include one or more internal caches for data, instructions, or
addresses. This disclosure contemplates processor 502 including any
suitable number of any suitable internal caches, where appropriate.
As an example and not by way of limitation, processor 502 may
include one or more instruction caches, one or more data caches,
and one or more translation lookaside buffers (TLBs). Instructions
in the instruction caches may be copies of instructions in memory
504 or storage 506, and the instruction caches may speed up
retrieval of those instructions by processor 502. Data in the data
caches may be copies of data in memory 504 or storage 506 for
instructions executing at processor 502 to operate on; the results
of previous instructions executed at processor 502 for access by
subsequent instructions executing at processor 502 or for writing
to memory 504 or storage 506; or other suitable data. The data
caches may speed up read or write operations by processor 502. The
TLBs may speed up virtual-address translation for processor 502. In
particular embodiments, processor 502 may include one or more
internal registers for data, instructions, or addresses. This
disclosure contemplates processor 502 including any suitable number
of any suitable internal registers, where appropriate. Where
appropriate, processor 502 may include one or more arithmetic logic
units (ALUs); be a multi-core processor; or include one or more
processors 502. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates
a particular processor, this disclosure contemplates any suitable
processor.
In particular embodiments, memory 504 includes main memory for
storing instructions for processor 502 to execute or data for
processor 502 to operate on. As an example and not by way of
limitation, computer system 500 may load instructions from storage
506 or another source (such as, for example, another computer
system 500) to memory 504. Processor 502 may then load the
instructions from memory 504 to an internal register or internal
cache. To execute the instructions, processor 502 may retrieve the
instructions from the internal register or internal cache and
decode them. During or after execution of the instructions,
processor 502 may write one or more results (which may be
intermediate or final results) to the internal register or internal
cache. Processor 502 may then write one or more of those results to
memory 504. In particular embodiments, processor 502 executes only
instructions in one or more internal registers or internal caches
or in memory 504 (as opposed to storage 506 or elsewhere) and
operates only on data in one or more internal registers or internal
caches or in memory 504 (as opposed to storage 506 or elsewhere).
One or more memory buses (which may each include an address bus and
a data bus) may couple processor 502 to memory 504. Bus 512 may
include one or more memory buses, as described below. In particular
embodiments, one or more memory management units (MMUs) reside
between processor 502 and memory 504 and facilitate accesses to
memory 504 requested by processor 502. In particular embodiments,
memory 504 includes random access memory (RAM). This RAM may be
volatile memory, where appropriate Where appropriate, this RAM may
be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). Moreover, where
appropriate, this RAM may be single-ported or multi-ported RAM.
This disclosure contemplates any suitable RAM. Memory 504 may
include one or more memories 504, where appropriate. Although this
disclosure describes and illustrates particular memory, this
disclosure contemplates any suitable memory.
In particular embodiments, storage 506 includes mass storage for
data or instructions. As an example and not by way of limitation,
storage 506 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk
drive, flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc,
magnetic tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a
combination of two or more of these. Storage 506 may include
removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, where appropriate.
Storage 506 may be internal or external to computer system 500,
where appropriate. In particular embodiments, storage 506 is
non-volatile, solid-state memory. In particular embodiments,
storage 506 includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate,
this ROM may be mask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM),
erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM),
electrically alterable ROM (EAROM), or flash memory or a
combination of two or more of these. This disclosure contemplates
mass storage 506 taking any suitable physical form. Storage 506 may
include one or more storage control units facilitating
communication between processor 502 and storage 506, where
appropriate. Where appropriate, storage 506 may include one or more
storages 506. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates
particular storage, this disclosure contemplates any suitable
storage.
In particular embodiments, I/O interface 508 includes hardware,
software, or both, providing one or more interfaces for
communication between computer system 500 and one or more I/O
devices. Computer system 500 may include one or more of these I/O
devices, where appropriate. One or more of these I/O devices may
enable communication between a person and computer system 500. As
an example and not by way of limitation, an I/O device may include
a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse, printer, scanner,
speaker, still camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen, trackball,
video camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination of two
or more of these. An I/O device may include one or more sensors.
This disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O devices and any
suitable I/O interfaces 508 for them. Where appropriate, I/O
interface 508 may include one or more device or software drivers
enabling processor 502 to drive one or more of these I/O devices.
I/O interface 508 may include one or more I/O interfaces 508, where
appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a
particular I/O interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable
I/O interface.
In particular embodiments, communication interface 510 includes
hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for
communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication)
between computer system 500 and one or more other computer systems
500 or one or more networks. As an example and not by way of
limitation, communication interface 510 may include a network
interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating
with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC
(WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless
network, such as a WI-FI network. This disclosure contemplates any
suitable network and any suitable communication interface 510 for
it. As an example and not by way of limitation, computer system 500
may communicate with an ad hoc network, a personal area network
(PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a
metropolitan area network (MAN), or one or more portions of the
Internet or a combination of two or more of these. One or more
portions of one or more of these networks may be wired or wireless.
As an example, computer system 500 may communicate with a wireless
PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI
network, a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (such as,
for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
network), or other suitable wireless network or a combination of
two or more of these. Computer system 500 may include any suitable
communication interface 510 for any of these networks, where
appropriate. Communication interface 510 may include one or more
communication interfaces 510, where appropriate. Although this
disclosure describes and illustrates a particular communication
interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable communication
interface.
In particular embodiments, bus 512 includes hardware, software, or
both coupling components of computer system 500 to each other. As
an example and not by way of limitation, bus 512 may include an
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, an Enhanced
Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB),
a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard
Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a low-pin-count
(LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, a
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a PCI-Express (PCIe)
bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Video
Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, or another
suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these. Bus 512 may
include one or more buses 512, where appropriate. Although this
disclosure describes and illustrates a particular bus, this
disclosure contemplates any suitable bus or interconnect.
Herein, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium or media
may include one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated
circuits (ICs) (such, as for example, field-programmable gate
arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific ICs (ASICs)), hard disk
drives (HDDs), hybrid hard drives (HHDs), optical discs, optical
disc drives (ODDs), magneto-optical discs, magneto-optical drives,
floppy diskettes, floppy disk drives (FDDs), magnetic tapes,
solid-state drives (SSDs), RAM-drives, SECURE DIGITAL cards or
drives, any other suitable computer-readable non-transitory storage
media, or any suitable combination of two or more of these, where
appropriate. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium may
be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and
non-volatile, where appropriate.
Herein, "or" is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly
indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore,
herein, "A or B" means "A, B, or both," unless expressly indicated
otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Moreover, "and" is
both joint and several, unless expressly indicated otherwise or
indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, "A and B" means
"A and B, jointly or severally," unless expressly indicated
otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.
The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes,
substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the
example embodiments described or illustrated herein that a person
having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. The scope of
this disclosure is not limited to the example embodiments described
or illustrated herein. Moreover, although this disclosure describes
and illustrates respective embodiments herein as including
particular components, elements, functions, operations, or steps,
any of these embodiments may include any combination or permutation
of any of the components, elements, functions, operations, or steps
described or illustrated anywhere herein that a person having
ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Furthermore, reference
in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a component of
an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to, capable of,
configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to perform a
particular function encompasses that apparatus, system, component,
whether or not it or that particular function is activated, turned
on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or component is
so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or
operative.
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